Self Concept and factors that affect it. Unit 3 Self Concept and factors that affect it.

Objectives To gain an awareness of what self-concept is. To state your own positive and negative self-concepts. To gain knowledge and show understanding of how self-concept develops throughout the life stages. To describe factors that affect self-concept and how they interrelate.

What is Self- Concept? Self concept is the combination of self-esteem, which is how highly we think about ourselves; and self-image, which we gain from other people’s reactions to us.

What does self-concept involve? How clever we are How physically attractive we are How we compare to other people we know How good we are activities or sport etc Self concept involves How popular we are with others How likely we are to be successful at coping with problems How fit and strong we are

Factors that affect self-concept Age Gender Culture Sexual orientation Appearance Life experiences Emotional maturity Education All these factors affect the way we feel about our self and the reactions we get from others, therefore affect our self concept.

As a baby we don not have any concept of the world we are born into or who we are. Adults may be able to explain the quality of their lives and personality in greater depth than when in adolescence. Age Older adults may have more self knowledge than younger adults and may show wisdom in their self concept. In adolescence we start to get a sense of who we are, what we like and dislike, relationships with others.

Gender Education choices may be affected due to gender. There are different social expectations for men and women eg not to smoke or drink as much Gender Women and men expect to have the same opportunities now in the workplace although women may not go for the same jobs as men due to being female. Women may have to consider career moves if they have children or want to have children

Parents may express disappointment when their child may not marry or live in a conventional family Acquaintances may express homophobic attitudes Sexual orientation Same pension and housing privileges are not allowed for homosexual couples as for heterosexual couples Public opposition for homosexual couples to foster or adopt children